After leaving Chiyang Peak, the two of them walked all the way up along the bluestone mountain path.
After walking for about half a shichen, the mist ahead gradually dispersed, and a ten-story spiritual wood tower appeared among the mountains.
The tower was constructed from thousand-year agarwood, and a plaque made of warm jade hung above the main entrance, bearing three large characters: “Library Pavilion.”
The copper bells beneath the eaves hung silent without any wind, and the pavilion's protective formation turned into a pale gold stream of light, slowly circulating around the entire tower.
Stepping through the pavilion doors, a refreshing scent of ink mixed with a faint aroma of sandalwood wafted over them.
Looking around, rows of agarwood and sandalwood bookshelves towered all the way to the ceiling, with jade slips, silk scrolls, and ancient volumes neatly categorized and displayed.
Several disciples bustled between them carrying scriptures, with the occasional soft rustle of turning pages.
The elder guarding the pavilion leaned behind a long desk. After verifying their personal disciple jade plaques, he waved them through.
The first floor of the Library Pavilion stored geographical miscellany, demon beast charts, and elementary texts on alchemy and talismans.
The second floor held basic spells and Qi Condensation cultivation techniques.
These things were of little use to the two of them. They took a casual look around, and then, taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, quietly slipped toward the third floor.
Su Ye stood at the entrance of the stairs, looking at the flowing restriction ahead, his voice lowered to a whisper.
“Master just said we shouldn't force our way in, and we came right here the moment we turned around.”
“Is this really a good idea?”
“What's wrong with it?”
Xue Mingzhao replied righteously, “Master said those who haven't reached Foundation Establishment can't force their way in.”
“We are already at Foundation Establishment, so we fully meet the requirements.”
“But Master doesn't know that.”
“That's why we have to go up secretly.”
Su Ye: “...”
He was left speechless.
The restrictions of the Library Pavilion only recognized actual cultivation levels and did not check sect admission records.
When the two stepped past the entrance to the third floor, a golden stream of light swept over them without any resistance.
They entered smoothly.
The third floor stored Foundation Establishment cultivation techniques, mid-grade pill formulas, ordinary formations, and various experiential journals left behind by other cultivators.
There were also many independent quiet rooms here, but opening them required spending sect contribution points.
The two had only entered the sect for a single day, and their contribution points were cleaner than their faces, so they could only read at the long tables outside.
The Heavenly Origin Sect had a vast number of disciples, and almost all the tables on every floor were fully occupied.
Furthermore, the two were new faces who had just joined the sect. Hardly anyone recognized them, and no one paid attention to why they had appeared on the third floor.
Xue Mingzhao casually pulled out an introductory book on formations. As she flipped through a few pages, her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
These scriptures were merely common books in the Heavenly Origin Sect, yet the Grand Primordium Sect couldn't even produce a single copy.
If she could memorize them all and transcribe another copy when she got back...
Wouldn't the Grand Primordium Sect's Library Pavilion, which was currently so empty that mice could run races in it, be saved?
Cang Jue suddenly spoke up, “Boss, in truth, the cultivation techniques of various sects mostly lead to the same destination. It's just that some are written in a tedious manner, while others are simplified.”
Xue Mingzhao's hand paused as she flipped the pages.
That was true.
How could she have forgotten that, in addition to refining pills, Cang Jue was also an encyclopedia who had lived for who knew how many years?
And there was also Baize, who claimed to know all things.
With one being highly experienced and the other all-knowing, why was she painstakingly copying books?
Once she returned, she could just have them write down all the cultivation techniques, pill formulas, formations, and cultivation insights they knew, stuff them into the Grand Primordium Sect's Library Pavilion, and wouldn't the problem be solved?
Xue Mingzhao's mood instantly brightened.
Cang Jue: “...”
It really shouldn't have opened its mouth.
Now it had taken on a whole bunch of chores again.
Inside the Qiankun Heaven-Locking Bracelet, Baize, who was having a grand old time playing with Xiao Qian, suddenly sneezed loudly.
It raised its head alertly.
Who was thinking about it behind its back?
The first suspect Baize had in mind was the Chaos Spiritual Root.
That black-hearted spiritual root must be speaking ill of it in front of Master again!
At the same time, the Chaos Spiritual Root suddenly grew excited.
“I feel another companion of the same origin again!”
The book in Xue Mingzhao's hand snapped shut with a clap.
“Where?”
Had her fourth opportunity appeared so quickly?
“Above.”
Xue Mingzhao raised her head and looked above her.
“Which floor exactly?”
“Very high up, it has been up there the whole time.”
Xue Mingzhao looked up along the stairs, her expression gradually turning solemn.
The good news: Little Four was here.
The bad news: Little Four lived a bit too high up and didn't even know to come down and welcome her.
She put down the ancient scroll in her hand and quietly walked toward the stairs leading to the fourth floor.
A faint golden light floated at the entrance of the stairs.
The fourth floor required a Golden Core cultivation level to enter.
Currently, she was only at Foundation Establishment. If she forced her way in, she might be slapped right back to Chiyang Peak by the restriction on the spot.
Su Ye noticed her movement and quickly followed.
“Where are you going?”
“Going upstairs to take a look.”
“The fourth floor requires a Golden Core cultivation level.”
“I know.”
“You know and you're still going?!”
Xue Mingzhao thought for a moment. “To break a minor sect rule.”
Su Ye grabbed her sleeve. “You just acknowledged your master yesterday!”
“And?”
“At least wait until the second day to break them!”
Xue Mingzhao pulled her sleeve back and lowered her voice. “There might be something I'm looking for up there. Stay on the third floor and keep watch for me. If anyone asks, just say I went to the latrine.”
Su Ye looked up at the stairs leading to the fourth floor.
“Whose latrine is built on the tenth floor of the Library Pavilion?”
“Then say I fell into the pit and can't get out anytime soon.”
“...”
“Anyway, if I'm not back within half a shichen, you leave first. Don't come up looking for me under any circumstances.”
Having finished her instructions, Xue Mingzhao took a deep breath and placed her foot on the first step.
The Chaos Spiritual Root egged her on, “Didn't you also easily pass through that barrier on the seabed last time?”
“Maybe it will work this time too.”
Xue Mingzhao was somewhat suspicious. “Are you complaining that I'm dying too slowly and want to regain your freedom sooner?”
The Chaos Spiritual Root instantly grew flustered and angry. “Go up or don't, see if I care!”
“Why are you getting angry? I was just asking casually.”
Seeing its reaction, the sensation was probably real.
Xue Mingzhao took a few more steps upward.
No lightning struck.
She wasn't bounced away.
The restriction didn't even light up.
She quickly arrived at the entrance of the fourth floor, carefully extending a finger to poke at the air ahead.
No reaction.
She reached a hand inside.
Still no reaction.
Xue Mingzhao tentatively stepped over the last stair, standing completely on the fourth floor.
Her surroundings remained calm and tranquil.
She actually made it in!
Forcing down the urge to laugh out loud, she pretended as if nothing had happened and casually tidied her sleeves.
Occasionally, Golden Core disciples passed by on the fourth floor, but none of them paid much attention to her.
Passing through the restriction naturally meant her cultivation met the requirements.
Who would have thought they would encounter someone today who didn't play by the rules?
Keeping her head down, Xue Mingzhao continued upward.
Fifth floor.
Still nothing happened.
Sixth floor.
The layout inside the Library Pavilion suddenly changed.
There were no long tables here for reading.
A quiet corridor stretched forward, lined on both sides with tightly closed independent quiet rooms.
A formation isolating divine sense and sound was carved on every door, and spiritual jade plaques indicating they were in use hung outside.
The doors of the quiet rooms were shut tight, preventing the people inside from sensing any movement outside.
Likewise, no one saw her pass by.
Rate on N.U.
